Archive

  • Little Wriggler

    I haven't left a blog entry for three weeks because my sister - Littl'un's beloved Aunty Nat - hurt herself very badly. She was in a coma and things looked very bad, so the last thing I was feeling was 'funny'. Anyway, in the past week Nat's turned a

  • City conference tackles climate change

    Oxford needs to work together as a community if it is to successfully combat the effects of climate change in the future. That was the message being put across as councillors, members of the public and environmental activists met at Oxford's Town Hall

  • Blaze victim 'remembers nothing'

    A woman seriously injured in an arson attack allegedly sparked by two people from Kidlington remembers nothing about the incident, a jury has heard. Linda McLeod told detectives she could not remember a fire at her terraced home in Marston Road, Southampton

  • Farmer's fury as activists admit attack

    Animal rights activists have claimed responsibility for setting off two bombs at a farm - and warned other businesses could be targeted. Incendiary devices exploded fuel tanks destroying two tractors, containers and 200 bales of hay causing up to £500,000

  • Student saved from home blaze

    Two good samaritans helped a sleeping student escape from a burning building after they spotted thick black smoke billowing from the second floor and raised the alarm. Carrie Gilbert, 29, from South Hinksey and her half brother Max Poppleton, 21,were

  • Academy plan unveiled

    The Oxford Mail can today reveal the grand plans to turn Peers School into the city's first flagship academy. The Diocese of Oxford - the lead sponsor in the £25m project - has lifted the lid on its proposals for the Littlemore school, which could see

  • Small traders making a stand

    Fears over the future of small traders are being voiced as the county marks National Independents Week - a celebration of local independent shops. To start the campaign, Alan Toft, the chairman of the My Shop is Your Shop Campaign - which campaigns

  • Scheme to help drunken yobs

    Drunken yobs arrested by police will be given help and information to cut down their drinking under new plans in Oxfordshire. Police across the county are currently preparing to tackle a summer of low-level drink crime plaguing town and city centres

  • BMW to support carnival

    Oxford's Cowley Road Carnival was today pledged continuing support by last year's rescuer BMW as plans for next month's festivities were unveiled. At the launch of this year's event, which is expected to attract up to 25,000 people, a spokesman for

  • Castaway star wants to find love

    She's just come runner-up in a reality TV gameshow and now Francie Smee wants to get involved in a game of a different kind - the game of love. The bubbly 57-year-old has returned to Oxford after spending three months on a remote island off the coast

  • Academy fears

    I refer to the letter from "local elected representatives with an interest and concerns about the wellbeing of Peers School at Littlemore, Oxford" (Oxford Mail, May 30). As vice-president of Oxfordshire National Union of Teachers, I also share concerns

  • Postal crossroads

    There can be no mistaking that this is a crossroads for postal workers and our customers. Never before have we faced such a savage onslaught on our jobs, our pay, or our terms and conditions of work. The Royal Mail board, including John Neill, of

  • Cyclists will be targeted again

    As the officer in charge of the police operation enforcing cycling laws in Broad Street, Oxford, on May 23, I would like to address certain criticisms. No frontline officers were taken from regular duties for this operation - it was completely manned

  • Teddy rejected for role in Brideshead remake

    Aloysius, the teddy bear made famous by his appearance in the 1981 series Brideshead Revisited, is now living in a Witney museum. The 25in bear, who will be 100 this year, is one of the star exhibits at the Teddy Bears of Witney shop and museum. He

  • Crime fall boosts estate life

    Life on an Oxford estate once dogged by crime, joyriding and drugs has been given the thumbs-up by its residents. A recent survey highlighting the worst things about living in Blackbird Leys and Greater Leys showed two-thirds of those polled thought

  • Today's local share prices (PM)

    AEA Technology 131 BMW 3341 Electrocomponents 301.75 Isoft Group 48.25 Nationwide Accident Repair 159 Oxford Biomedica 39.5 Oxford Instruments 293.25 Reed Elsevier 669.75 RM 209.75 RPS Group 365.75 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon

  • 'We blew up farm' — extremists

    ANIMAL rights campaigners have claimed responsibility for two petrol bombs which exploded at an Oxfordshire farm. The incendiary devices caused thousands of pounds of damage at Field Farm, Appleton, at about 11pm on Sunday, May 6. An anonymous posting

  • Alert as thieves target sheds

    THOUSANDS of pounds of fishing equipment, golf clubs and tools have been stolen in a spate of thefts from sheds and garages in Bicester. Police warned today there had been six reports over the past two weeks where burglars had forced shed and garage

  • Man accused of illegal street trading

    A STREET trader has been charged with illegally peddling goods in Oxford city centre. Hassam Hajyahya, 35, was arrested on Friday after complaints from traders about a stall selling scarves in Cornmarket Street, Oxford. Police today charged Hajyahya

  • Thieves target sheds

    Thousands of pounds of fishing equipment, golf clubs and tools have been stolen in a spate of thefts from sheds and garages in Bicester. Police warned today there had been six reports over the past two weeks where burglars had forced shed and garage

  • Man attacked with glass

    A 23-YEAR-OLD man was wounded after being glassed in the face. Police are appealing for witnesses to the attack in Laburnum Grove, Didcot, at about 8.30pm on Friday. The man was taken to hospital with a five in cut to the side of his face and cuts

  • Trader charged with illegal peddling

    A street trader has been charged with illegally peddling goods in Oxford city centre. Hassam Hajyahya, 35, was arrested on Friday after complaints from traders about a stall selling scarves in Cornmarket Street, Oxford. Police today charged Hajyahya

  • Passengers rap rail firm

    RAIL passengers have dealt a damning verdict on train company First Great Western. A survey conducted by watchdog body Passenger Focus revealed that just 72 per cent of FGW customers were satisfied with the service provided. The score ranked FGW second

  • Teens prove head for business

    Teenagers survived an out-of-this-world encounter to prove they had a head for business and could make the world a better place at the same time. Finalists in the Angels' Den competition - a twist on the hit BBC business show Dragons' Den - at St Matthew's

  • Vandals attack sports ground

    Thousands of pounds worth of damage has been inflicted by vandals on a sports centre and other play facilities in Carterton. The centre in Broadshires Way has been the worst hit in a spate of vandalism dating back to April. The cost of replacing large

  • Scarecrows go on display

    A pirate, a crocodile and a teenage wizard were just some of the unusual visitors to an Oxfordshire village at the weekend. But the unlikely guests did not pose any danger - because they were scarecrows! More than 20 straw-filled creations were dotted

  • Tax the land

    The latest New Statesman has a fascinating list of 50 ideas for Brown's Britain. The NS asked the five leading left wing think tanks to produce a ten-point plan. "Compass" is pointing in the right direction. One of their ideas is to tax land: "It is

  • Man badly cut in glassing

    A man suffered a five inch cut to his face after he was attacked with a glass. The incident happened in Laburnham Grove, Didcot, at about 8.30pm on Friday The 23-year-old victim was taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital with what police describe as

  • Animal rights link to arson

    Animal rights campaigners have claimed responsibility for two petrol bombs which exploded at an Oxfordshire farm. The incendiary devices caused thousands of pounds of damage at Field Farm in Appleton near Abingdon at about 11pm on May 6. An anonymous

  • Damning verdict on rail travel

    Rail passengers have dealt a damning verdict to train company First Great Western. A survey conducted by watchdog body Passenger Focus revealed that just 72 per cent of FGW customers were satisfied with the service provided. The score ranked FGW second

  • Three-car crash closes bypass

    A THREE-CAR crash closed Oxford's A40 Northern Bypass during this morning's rush hour. The incident happened at 8.23am close to the Headington roundabout and involved a silver Mini, a black Honda Civic and a blue Ford Escort. No one was injured in

  • An English country garden

    There is something quintessentially English about roses in June - and they deserve an equally English setting. Tucked away in the northern corner of Oxfordshire, Broughton Castle, near Banbury, provides the perfect backdrop. It is one of the most unspoilt

  • Silver dream machine

    T he Audi brand didn't have an all-out supercar' on its rosta - until the new aluminium-bodied, mid-engined R8 sports car rolled off the production line. The R8 is a stunning and uncompromising sports car, developed with the benefit of knowledge

  • The case for chardonnay

    At a recent wine tasting, a rather earnest young American asked me what's your passion?' Once we were clear that this was wine-speak, the answer was simple."I'm passionate about the diversity of wine. It's great that there are as many different wines,

  • Working with your body

    Ten years ago, I was, likemany people today, wondering why I felt so ill, directionless and tired all the time. My doctor signed me off work and continued to take blood tests but with no conclusive diagnosis. Today, I am healthy and energetic, with a

  • A rural revolution

    W alks on Otmoor are usually for the pleasure of enjoying the peace of the countryside to the accompaniment of birdsong. That music is often punctuated by the sound of gunfire because part of the moor is used as a rifle range by the Ministry of

  • Crash shut A40

    A three car crash closed Oxford's A40 northern bypass during this morning's rush hour. The incident happened at 8.23am close to the Headington roundabout and involved a silver Mini, a black Honda civic and a blue Ford Escort. No-one was injured in

  • Queen of the cress beds

    The picturesque village of Ewelme is rightly famous for its wonderful medieval architecture, epitomised in the church, school and almshouses built in the 15th century by Alice de la Pole, Duchess of Suffolk and grand-daughter of the famous poet Geoffrey

  • Today's local share prices (AM)

    AEA Technology 130 BMW 3390 Electrocomponents 306 Isoft Group 47.5 Nationwide Accident Repair 159 Oxford Biomedica 40 Oxford Instruments 292 Reed Elsevier 674.5 RM 209 RPS Group 371 Courtesy of Redmayne Bentley, Abingdon

  • Brothers on the battlefield

    My search for the lost Beechey boys started with a small brown case found in a dusty attic and crammed with hundreds of letters written from the trenches. There were eight brothers, the sons of an English country parson who gloried in the name of the

  • Telecoms firm merger agreed

    Telecoms firm STL has bought out its neighbour Intellion as it looks to strengthen its grip on the market. The companies, which share the same building in Station Lane, Witney, have merged following the relaxation of a non-competition agreement with

  • Wheels of fortune

    Biker Andrew Reed has managed to turn a lifelong passion into a new business. Mr Reed, 43, has loved motorcycles ever since he was able to hop onto a pillion seat at the age of 11, and for the last 10 years has dabbled in buying and selling machines

  • Crackdown launched on damage

    A CRACKDOWN on criminal damage across South Oxfordshire has been launched by Thames Valley Police. The three-month crackdown, Operation Mend, aims to reduce vandalism and target those responsible. Supt Andy Murray said: "Operation Mend is designed

  • More action needed to tackle RLJs

    Red light jumpers have been the bane of the cycling community for so many years that they've got their own acronym - RLJ. Like most cyclists, I find it very frustrating to be tarred with the same brush as RLJs. That's why it was great to see the police

  • Ban the bag

    The city council's proposal to rid Oxford of plastic carrier bags is spot on. We hope they succeed, but without government backing, it's going to be an uphill task. It shouldn't be. The Irish government showed the way a few years ago by doing just

  • At last, an MP speaks honestly

    We sometimes wonder if dear old Boris Johnson is suffering from that incurable condition known as foot in mouth disease. The Henley MP is notorious for occasionally opening his mouth before engaging his phenomenal brain. That is why he is not exactly

  • Women wanted for elections

    I can understand Barry Norton's reluctance to acknowledge the failure of the West Oxfordshire Conservatives to elect any women to the district council on May 3 (Oxford Mail, May 23). Instead, he resorts to attacking the Labour Party for failing to fight

  • We're ignored

    I belong to an ever-increasing group of individuals who have been ignored. We are transplant recipients. I was ill for about 16 months before my transplant and was in hospital for the last year of my illness, although I was able to get home periodically

  • Sterile environment

    The Chain Saw Massacre takes on a whole new meaning if you go down to the woods today. Brasenose Wood at Headington, Oxford, is looking particularly 'hacked off' and the devastation of certain areas is shocking. I am confident, however, that the park

  • Unnecessary limit

    Mathew Ledbury's letter, Jumping red lights keeps us safe (Oxford Mail, May 30) suggests that breaking the law by slipping through red lights may be safer for cyclists. I agree - just the same as when I travel along the Oxford Eastern Bypass far in

  • Soldier dies during race

    A SOLDIER based at RAF Brize Norton fell almost 500ft to his death after he ran into low cloud and became disorientated during a punishing mountain race. Sgt Paul Upton, of the 1st Battalion the Parachute Regiment, was taking part in the Welsh 1,000

  • Police worker 'still serious'

    A 50-year-old police call centre worker accidentally shot during a firearms awareness course remains in a serious condition. Keith Tilbury, was shot in the chest during a course at Thames Valley Police's Headquarters North in Kidlington last Wednesday

  • Earliest 'jewellery' is found

    EXPERTS from Oxford have discovered what are thought to be the oldest examples of human decorations in the world. The international team of archaeologists, led by Oxford University's Institute of Archaeology, have found shell beads believed to be

  • Senior slams superb century

    Tim Senior hit a scintillating 159 not out as Shipton-under-Wychwood 2nd piled on 260-4 after being asked to bat by Oxford 3rd in Division 5. Adam Leach (3-28) and Steven Carvey (3-69) then starred as Oxford fell for 211. Oxford 3rd 5pts, Shipton-under-Wychwood

  • Mother tells of fire rescue

    A MOTHER told a jury how she saved four of her children's lives in a fire allegedly started by two people from Kidlington. Mother-of-five Maria Butcher said she passed the youngsters out of a window into the garden as flames and smoke filled the house

  • Ash dump battle goes to Europe

    CAMPAIGNERS from pressure group Save Radley Lakes are taking their fight to Europe in a bid to stop RWE npower using Thrupp Lake as a dumping ground for spent fuel ash from Didcot power station. SRL treasurer Lynda Pasquire appealed to the European

  • Lifeguard shortage causes queues

    FAMILIES hoping to make the most of the hot weekend weather in Oxford were forced to queue for more than 90 minutes to get into the city's outdoor swimming pool. Due to a shortage of lifeguards, just 40 people at a time were allowed into Hinksey Pool

  • Crone sets up Challow

    Mark Crone's classy 118 and Roger Podbery's patient 50 enabled Challow & Childrey 2nd to declare one over early on 261-7 at home to Brackley in Division 4. Henry Newby took 4-75 for the visitors, but Duncan Wooloff (6-30) bowled even better as Brackley

  • Chelsea keeper praises hospital

    CHELSEA goalkeeper Petr Cech thanked doctors and nurses at an Oxford hospital for their "hard work" in helping to save his career. Mr Cech, 24, donated £1,000 after being treated in October for a serious head injury. The Czech international, rated

  • Tilley turns it on as Mills limp in

    Richard Tilley produced his league best figures as Witney Mills pulled off their first Division 3 win of the season at home to Chearsley. The in-form Tilley took 8-51 as the visitors were dismissed for just 87 in 30.2 overs. Mills made hard work of

  • Schools defend fingerprint software

    PARENTS at five Oxfordshire schools have been promised that fingerprint data held on their children is secure. Headteachers have defended the use of fingerprint recognition software following national calls for tighter controls. Two secondary schools

  • Oxford bid to ban plastic bags

    A CAMPAIGN launched today aims to make Oxford the first plastic bag-free city in the UK. On the day Oxford City Council hosts its first climate change conference, delegates will be told of plans to persuade supermarkets, stores and independent shops

  • Bagpuize duo stunned by Horspath

    Kingston Bagpuize looked well on course for victory in Division 2 when Rob Keates (106) and Martin Shepherd (58) put on 179 in 34 overs for the first wicket after being asked to bat at Horspath. The run rate dipped when they were gone, but 288-9 still

  • MP Boris comes clean on drugs

    TORY MP Boris Johnson has admitted to smoking cannabis and snorting cocaine - but few of his Oxfordshire colleagues shared his candour when approached last night. The Henley MP tore up Tory leader David Cameron's carefully crafted rulebook on dealing

  • Stabbed man found in street

    POLICE are appealing for witnesses after a 22-year-old man was stabbed in Wantage. At about 1am yesterday while driving on a regular patrol in Mill Street, an officer discovered a man who had been stabbed. An ambulance was called and he was taken to

  • Man charged with supermarket raid

    POLICE have charged a man in relation to an incident at the Morrisons Supermarket on Swan Close Road, Banbury, on Sunday at 12.10pm. Miroslaw Mrowiec, 23, of Newland Road, Banbury, was charged with robbery and possession of a firearm with intent to

  • SPEEDWAY: Chapman bids to save Cheetahs

    The roar of speedway bikes at Oxford Stadium could be heard again as soon as next week. Jonathan Chapman, son of former Oxford promoter and rider Keith 'Buster' Chapman and also the man behind British speedway's Super Seven series, has applied to the

  • FOOTBALL: Judge succeeds Lewis as Abingdon coach

    Former Oxford United goalkeeper Alan Judge is to succeed Mickey Lewis as first-team coach at Abingdon United. Lewis left the Northcourt Road outfit at the end of the season to take up the position of youth team coach at Oxford United. Abingdon manager

  • Spindler claims six-wicket haul

    Wallingford's left-arm seamer Trevor Spindler took his 18th wicket in three matches, but had to settle for a draw at Bledlow Ridge 2nd in Division 6 Spindler claimed 6-87 in Ridge's 196-9, but despite Lee Ainsworth's 51 and Rob Sessions (50no), the

  • Downs pull off amazing victory

    Oxford Downs were 101 runs behind with three wickets in hand yet managed to pull off a remarkable Division 1 victory at Shipton-under-Wychwood. The turnaround was hardest on Shipton spinner Dickon Morris, who took every Downs wicket to finish with 8

  • Sex-attack inquiry continues

    DETECTIVES are continuing to talk to a teenage girl who told police she was sexually assaulted at Gloucester Green in Oxford at the weekend. The alleged incident happened at 11.30pm on Saturday in the alleyway linking Gloucester Green and the bus station

  • Dew scores Brands Hatch win

    HOT hatch racer Alex Dew, of Bampton, dominated the latest round of the Hot Hatch Championship to take his first win of the season. The win at Brands Hatch, followed a second place and new lap record at the super fast circuit of Castle Combe in Wiltshire

  • Important lessons for doubled-up Team Roberts

    KENNY Roberts Jr. finished 17th in Sunday's Italian MotoGP at Mugello, and brother Kurtis, in his first GP since 2005, retired on the fourth of 23 laps. But in spite of the disappointing results, Banbury-based Team Roberts could mark the weekend as

  • Street artists show off their skills

    YOUNG graffiti artists in Bicester have been showing off their art to members of the public. Youngsters at the Courtyard Youth Arts Centre - including Can Two' and Cope Two' - covered the club's wall in their own designs on Friday and Saturday, as part

  • Motorsport goes green

    WAYS to propel motorsport towards a green future will be up for discussion at a conference this month. Delegates will talk about biofuels, hybrids and electricity at Future Fuels in Motorsport, at Oxford Brookes University on Tuesday, June 19. Organisers

  • Saving cash

    PEOPLE attending the city's first climate change summit in the Town Hall today are eligible for half-price fares on park-and-ride buses. The conference takes place from 4-8pm on World Environment Day and features lectures by environmental experts like

  • Fire DVD launched

    A DVD aimed at parents with young children is being launched by Oxfordshire County Council's Fire and Rescue Service in a bid to prevent children starting accidental fires in the home. The new DVD, entitled Curiosity Copycat, is to be launched by